Another Way to Make Money

Here's a comment that was left this week on my post titled Can You Save Money by Hunting?:

You can add this to your "more ways to make money column". A friend of mine guides hunts on weekends. He charges $100 per person per day. I think he limits it to four hunters at a time. There is some investment involved. You have to know property owners that will let you use their land. Some let him use it for free. Others lease it to him. He gets a lot of satisfaction from it, especially when he gets the chance to take young kids on their first hunt.

Ok, so he's not making a fortune, but he's having fun, doing what he loves, getting to hunt himself, AND making money. Seems like a good deal (kind of like turning your hobby into an income, huh?) ;-)

Comments

[Sarah]

Have to tell you, I'd be really concerned about liability issues for that guy. One injured, or, God forbid, killed guest could wipe out everything.

[Eric]

One more thing to think of is you may need a license to guide. In the state where I live you need to have schooling to get the license. If you are caught guiding without one you will get charged criminally from the Fish wildlife and park service. The schooling is a little spendy so it is just a little more overhead to start.

[geez]

Eric -

There's a charge for guiding without a license?

I guess there's no end to the government ka-ching machine.

[Kevin M]

Hopefully Dick Cheney isn't going on one of this guy's hunts.

[Di Eats the Elephant]

I think it's a nifty idea. Alternatively, you could get a license and have a B&B and rent rooms. Regarding the guide business, I believe if the guide accepts donations only, it may not be a big deal - he's doing it from the good of his heart and they appreciate him at a certain rate. It would be good to hear what someone in the legal or accounting (tax) profession knows to be true, tho! I know there are others who suggest what would be a going rate for the same "service" so that the donor can donate in a manner that meets their own needs as well (cheap, but feel like I paid him (so no personal feeling of indebtedness or gratitude; more than the going rate - he's the best; or something close by, but less, but is all that I can afford (wish I could afford the "going rate" as the guy is awe-some!). It could be that even donations are taxable, but then the expenses would be tax-deductible. The rate would have to go up to account for the taxes, and paying for the increased expenses (liability insurance, a tax accountant, legal advice, etc.). If the folks can pay, might be worthwhile doing that. Good luck to any of you out there looking for new ways to make bucks! I love hearing your creative ideas!